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kimgough
Bronze Member
 England
109 Posts |
 Posted - 25 Sep 2013 : 07:34:44 AM
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Would be really grateful to hear your advice for washing manes and tails. I have two Highland ponies who have really thick, quite course, manes and tails. I have a show coming up soon and would like some advice on what products to use - something to soften the hair and condition. Also detanglers. Their manes get quite a lot of tangles in them and not sure which detanglers are best. I have used Cowboy Magic which is great but, unfortunately, it is very expensive and does not last long with their thick and long manes. Many thanks 
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Kes
Platinum Member
England
1819 Posts |
Posted - 25 Sep 2013 : 07:46:31 AM
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Kes gets a knotty mane with the wind and rain combo sometimes so I try to keep it smooth and silky. I also use Cowboy Magic, but yes, it is quite expensive.
To be honest, I use big bottle human conditioners that are often on offer, like Treseme for example, I give his mane a good soaking in it and keeping it topped up with 'Mane & Tail' spray seems to keep it nice and knot free. For other mane and tail cleaning I use Supreme Products, with Kes being a white grey the blue shampoo works well, Carole :) |
    
Carole & Kes, West Sussex. |
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kath
Gold Member
United Kingdom
943 Posts |
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AnnaMaisy25
Gold Member
England
794 Posts |
Posted - 25 Sep 2013 : 08:56:22 AM
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Kim, Splash has a huge tail, mane... Feathers... She's just hairy bless her.
We use Johnson's baby shampoo [the yellow one] in her tail and mane, it's brilliant for showing standards!
It get's rid of the knots, smoothes the hair, makes it smell pretty and when it dries, there's a gorgeous glossy look to the hair.
We don't condition her mane or tail before shows, it leaves her hair looking dull and heavy and it isn't great for them either... Strips the hair more than shampoo does because it leaves a residue.
For fluffy feathers, wash with a shampoo that would volumise your own hair.... I use the James Brown London shampoo on Splash. You don't need a lot because it froths up nicely, and again, smoothes the hair, but also locks in moisture so doesn't dry them out.
Then rinse thoroughly [obv] and then, WITHOUT BRUSHING them, mist over a shine and gloss, or detangler gloss spray. Leave to dry, then brush through with your fingers.
That's how we wash the Beast xxx |
 
Splash&Freya. |
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pinkvboots
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
3290 Posts |
Posted - 25 Sep 2013 : 10:16:36 AM
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| The best stuff I have used is Dream coat it is meant for the coat but works really well on mane and tail, I think its carr day and martin its in a big silver bottle, brilliant stuff. |
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borleybird
Bronze Member
184 Posts |
Posted - 25 Sep 2013 : 11:41:57 AM
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I used to use pig oil on my Shire cross mare. By moisturizing the hairs, they are less likely to knot or break while mud and dirt slips off (well almost). Works wonders on feathers and prevents mud fever.
I have also heard that silicone furniture polish has the same chemical compound as mane detangler although I havent tried it yet. |
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borleybird
Bronze Member
184 Posts |
Posted - 25 Sep 2013 : 11:46:28 AM
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| just remembered, I used to look after Morgans and we washed their tails in baby shampoo (doesnt strip the hair of oil or leave residue which some human shampoos can) and then put a mild conditioner in it but not rinse. Tails were plaited up as stupidly long, and left to dry. When taken down a day, week or how ever long later, they would be wonderfully soft and flowing. They hair is somewhere between course cobs and fine arabs. |
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Libby Frost
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
4711 Posts |
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justine
Gold Member
England
641 Posts |
Posted - 25 Sep 2013 : 2:54:35 PM
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| I use olive oil spray, can be bought in boots, its for afro hair. |
jbassindale |
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Callisto
Platinum Member
6905 Posts |
Posted - 25 Sep 2013 : 3:24:26 PM
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Eqyss Survivor Detangler and shine - it's a leave in conditioner that smells lovely, it's not cheap but you don't need much and I've had my bottle for a couple of years. It's really great for their manes and tails and stops the mud clinging to the hair in the winter. It works really well on my welsh x tb pony who has quite a coarse mane and tail, as well as the Arabs. I find it works better than the spray on detangler products.
I use Vosene or Tesco's basic shampoo when I wash them.
I believe you are really not supposed to use Head and Shoulders shampoo on horses and dogs - it has a chemical in it which is bad for them. |
  Zahkira (GR Amaretto x Taffetta)
Linda
East Sussex |
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kimgough
Bronze Member
England
109 Posts |
Posted - 25 Sep 2013 : 5:33:32 PM
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Thank you everyone for your advice. I was especially interested to hear about hair conditioner as I have been leaving this in and will not do so anymore. Will definitely try the baby shampoo too and some of the detanglers. I have got some pig oil but hear that it is a bit smelly. :)
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AnnaMaisy25
Gold Member
England
794 Posts |
Posted - 26 Sep 2013 : 2:22:35 PM
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Pig Oil and Sulphur doesn't smell too bad! We mix in citronella oil, just 2 drops will do it, and then ponies smell of summer! xx
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Splash&Freya. |
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Meggie-Lu
Platinum Member
England
1519 Posts |
Posted - 26 Sep 2013 : 2:50:57 PM
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| Mouse my connie had really thick hair, cheap furniture polish sprayed on the brush, then brushed into the mane and tail. Worked really well. |
   Danger Mouse |
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garnet
Platinum Member
2382 Posts |
Posted - 26 Sep 2013 : 6:07:37 PM
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| A friend with a Highland always used pig oil on his mane and tail. I use pig oil and sulphur on my cob's very heavy feather and also put it on Red's legs in winter. For Sam's mane and tail, which is very long and incredibly thick, I wash in bog standard animal shampoo which comes in a 5 litre bottle and then brush through with Canter mane and tail spray or similar. If we are going to a show I plait his mane and tail and then undo them at the show. I use a paddle brush which gets through well without pulling or breaking hairs. |
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kimgough
Bronze Member
England
109 Posts |
Posted - 26 Sep 2013 : 6:29:33 PM
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Thank you, again, and I will definitely try the citronella oil in the pig oil too  |
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Topic |
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Advice needed for manes and tails
